It took two attempts to get going this season and who knew that a rebounded penalty (pictured right) at 1-0 down against AFC Bournemouth at the DW Stadium in January would spark the club’s historic route to being FA Cup winners 2013.

Latics started their epic journey at home (the only tie at the DW in the competition) with AFC Bournemouth the visitors, coincidentally the first team the club faced in the 2005-06 League Cup run.

A traditional FA Cup upset looked to be on the cards and the fairy tale for Latics was put on the back burner when Cherries’ midfielder Eunan O’Kane lashed the ball into Mike Pollitt’s top left hand corner just before half time.

Latics bounced back after the goal looking a changed side at the start of the second half, but it took until the 70th minute for the hosts to pull level.

As the Bournemouth goal started to take a hammering, Maynor Figueroa was pulled down (pictured left) in the box by Simon Francis, leaving Jordi Gomez with the chance to pull his side level.

Shwan Jalal guessed the right way to save from the Spanish midfielder but Gomez was quick to react to place the ball into an empty goal.

A third round victory could have been sealed with both Figueroa and debutant Angelo Henriquez hitting the crossbar, only for the tie to end 1-1, cue a replay at the Goldsands Stadium.

A Tuesday night trip to the South coast left Latics fans licking their lips at the prospect of a fourth round tie with Blue Square Premier side and former Northern Premier League rivals Macclesfield Town.

It was considered job done with Latics taking away a 1-0 victory from the Goldsands Stadium courtesy of a thumping 20 yard effort from Mauro Boselli (pictured celebrating) in the first half.

The game wasn't quite as straight forward as that though and there were chances a plenty for both sides.

It was a night of debuts, injuries and near misses, with Roger Espinoza playing in his first ever game for the club, Mike Pollitt rupturing his thigh and Roman Golobart having what looked like his first ever goal for the club chalked off as the corner kick that set him up swung out of play (pictured).

Bournemouth stood their ground during the game and almost forced extra time as O’Kane and Marc Pugh both hit the crossbar and Ali Al Habsi was kept on his toes, tipping a Matt Tubbs free kick over the bar late on.

The whistle blew, the clock stopped and the fourth round beckoned for Roberto Martinez and his team as they ended what was an 18-game unbeaten run for Eddie Howe’s Cherries.